65 arrested in heroin bust, said to be largest in Minnesota history

State and federal law enforcement officials announced what they said was the largest heroin bust in Minnesota history, arresting dozens of distributors statewide Thursday.

The crackdown, dubbed "Project Exile" and organized largely by the U.S. attorney's office and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, resulted in 65 arrests throughout Minnesota. Federal officials said more arrests were likely to follow in the coming weeks.

"This is a great day for the good guys," said Jack Riley, special agent in charge of the DEA's Chicago field division. "We've punched organized crime right in the face."

But federal officials said none of the individuals arrested would be identified Thursday -- including where they were arrested or what they were charged with. Many charges were pending, officials said, and some of those arrested had been released pending further investigation.

St. Paul Police Chief Thomas Smith said just over a dozen people had been arrested in Ramsey County. Anoka County officials reported three arrests, and Washington County had seven arrests in their jurisdiction. The coordinated bust focused on metro-area counties, as well as Olmsted and St. Louis counties.

Authorities also said 2.5 kilograms of heroin was seized, and seven firearms and about $250,000 in alleged drug proceeds were confiscated.

Riley said that the heroin that ended up in Minnesota was largely produced in South America, including Colombia, Bolivia and Peru, with Mexican drug cartels used as a conduit to ship it north. Other officials spoke of the ease with which drug abusers could switch from opiate-based prescription painkillers to heroin, a fact currently being capitalized on by the cartels.

Brian Mueller, head of investigations for the Washington County sheriff's office, cited six overdose deaths so far this year -- as well as a 600 percent increase in heroin seizures over last year, and a 500 percent increase in undercover purchases.

"That is absolutely significant," Mueller said.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said there were 56 fatal heroin overdoses in his county last year -- with the month-to-month numbers this year roughly 50 percent higher.

"People are dying at alarming rates," Stanek said. "The numbers speak for themselves. In my 30 years of law enforcement, I've never seen a problem like this before."

Earlier this year, preliminary numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health showed there were 290 heroin-related deaths in the state in the last 15 years. Ninety-eight people died last year alone.

Many other states have also reported a rise in heroin use. And earlier this year, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder called the 45 percent increase in heroin overdose deaths between 2006 and 2010 an "urgent and growing public health crisis." Authorities in Minnesota and nationwide have been trying to find solutions and educate the public about the risks of heroin and opiate-based prescription drugs in hopes of stopping addiction before it starts.

After an increase in heroin-related deaths and overdoses in 2012, the DEA stepped up its focus on heroin trafficking and began working with other law enforcement to link investigations that were previously thought to be unconnected, the DEA said. The operation that led to Thursday's arrests began in December.

This report includes information from the Associated Press. Tad Vezner can be reached at 651-228-5461 or follow him on Twitter @SPnoir.